Congratulations to award-winning NWPE member Jason George (Presidential Award Winner in Science Education for 2016). Mr. George who is a longtime NWPE member and advocate for teacher professionalism contributed to the state’s effort to update Idaho’s science learning standards. He also recently led his students from Vision Charter School in Caldwell, ID, to a number of awards at the Idaho Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). The awards include an all-expense paid trip to the International Science Fair in Los Angeles for Mr. George and the team consisting of T.J. Herndon, Brooklyn Legg, and Luke Campbell who won first place overall competing in the category of Engineering, specifically in the area of high efficiency rocket nozzles. They won the Airforce Engineering Award, Gold in Category, Best in Category, and Best in Fair.

President Obama has named 213 mathematics and science teachers, including NWPE member Jason George, teacher at Vision Charter School in Caldwell, ID, as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Awardees represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity schools. Jason received his award at a ceremony in Washington, DC, on September 8.
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NWPE member Bradley Hansen teaches at Xavier Charter School in Twin Falls, Idaho. According to its website, Xavier Charter Schools are dedicated to providing a classical, intellectually rigorous, content-rich, liberal arts education preparing students to excel in every duty and guiding them toward wisdom and virtue by implementing a classical curriculum which includes the humanities and classical sciences with music, drama, visual art, and dance as core subjects. Mr. Hansen offers his perspective on working in a public charter school.

Idaho Education News publishes "Parents Support Charter Schools - And Want More" by Mr. Terry Ryan, CEO of Bluum and the Idaho Charter School Network. How should policy makers be responding to the clarion call of parents for more educational choices for their children?

This week, May 2-6, NWPE recognizes a special group of public school educators who teach in the charter school arena. These dedicated teachers face unique challenges and we’re proud to recognize their efforts! Today we feature Virginia Hammond, a high school algebra and geometry teacher at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy which was founded by Dr. Bill Proser who also serves as president of the NWPE Board of Directors. The Academy is the top performing public high school in the state of Idaho according to the Washington Post.

Jon Stadtlander, a teacher at Compass Public Charter School in Meridian, ID, gives his perspective on the value of school choice for professional educators as we start our celebration of National Charter Schools Week!

Idaho Education News reports that the Washington Post has once again cited the most challenging high schools in Idaho. Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy, founded by NWPE President Dr. Bill Proser, makes the list once again. It received highest honors in 2013 and 2014. Riverstone International, a private school and newcomer to the list, received top honors this year with the Academy coming in at second place. However, the Washington Post lists no score for the private school and the Academy had higher ACT scores. This gives Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy top honors for the most challenging public high school in the state of Idaho.

The Idaho School Choice Week planning committee has been working diligently to bring the most outstanding School Choice rally to Idaho’s capitol yet! Creative minds with big hearts are at the soul of this event set to take place on Wednesday, January 27 at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, ID.

The Association of American Educators (AAE) recently profiled a number of charter school teachers for National Charter Schools Week, including Northwest Professional Educators member Bill Proser, founder of the nationally acclaimed Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy in Coeur d'Alene, ID, and its longtime honors literature, history, and economics teacher. This is the second consecutive year that the Charter Academy has been ranked in the top 100 of the most challenging high schools as rated by the Washington Post. It is the number one performing high school in Idaho. Bill also serves NWPE’s president of the board of directors. We appreciate Bill's advocacy and hard work on behalf of student and teacher choice! Bill gives his insights on charter schools and what motivates him as an educator below.

The Association of American Educators (AAE) recently profiled a number of charter school teachers for National Charter Schools Week, including Northwest Professional Educators member Christina Aus, Special Education Teacher/Gifted and Talented Teacher/Speech Therapy Paraprofessional at Moscow Charter School, in Moscow, ID. Christina is an NWPE Member Leader, an ambassador who shares the benefits of teacher choice and NWPE membership with her fellow educators in north Idaho. Christina gives her insights on charter schools and what motivates her as an educator below.

The Association of American Educators (AAE) recently profiled a number of charter school teachers for National Charter Schools Week, including Northwest Professional Educators member Lisa Young, a fourth-grade math teacher at North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, in Rathdrum, ID. An NWPE grant winner in 2013, Lisa also recently celebrated receiving a $5,000 grant from the Idaho National Laboratory that will be used for a classroom makeover. Her expanding charter school was the grand prize winner of the ID21 Award receiving a $50,000 grant for its innovative learning style by the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation. Lisa gives her insights on charter schools and what motivates her as an educator below.

The Association of American Educators (AAE) recently profiled a number of charter school teachers for National Charter Schools Week, including Northwest Professional Educators member Becky Baird, Lead Teacher for Xavier Charter School's Grammar School (K-4). Becky is a founding teacher of the school which offers a classical education curriculum accented by the fine arts. Xavier believes that all students benefit from a rigorous, content-rich educational program that develops academic potential and personal character. Classes are taught at honors level, with the expectation that our students are college bound.

The Association of American Educators (AAE) recently profiled a number of charter school teachers for National Charter Schools Week, including Northwest Professional Educators member Zach Parker, High School English and History teacher at Sage International Charter School in Boise, Idaho. Prior to teaching at Sage, Zach taught at Caldwell High School and Victory Charter High School where he played an extensive role in developing the entire English and History curriculum as well as advising several student clubs/organizations. Zach gives his insights on charter schools and what motivates him as an educator below.

Teachers are often confused about charter schools and the support available to them. Cut through the confusion! On Tuesday, March 31, 7-8 pm at the Compass Charter School in Meridian, ID, the Idaho Charter School Network, charter administrators and NWPE are hosting an informational meeting for professional educators regarding public charter schools.

Congratulations to NWPE member Beth Richtsmeier, a teacher at Meridian Technical Charter School in Meridian, Idaho. Three of her students were recently featured in Idaho Education News for developing an innovative web program that tracks the daily physical activities of legislators.

As School Choice Week 2015 gets underway, AAE just wanted to remind you about the top 8 most important facts you need to have in your school choice week arsenal. We have a huge opportunity to make sure our voices are heard, so let's make it count by arming ourselves with these critical facts:

Back in 2005, Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy teacher Jean Robinson and a trio of students from across the United States and Mexico had the opportunity to work with Dr. Kobie Boykins, a mechanical engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in Pasadena, CA, and NASA's current spokesman for the Space Program. They were selected through National Geographic's JASON Project which takes a team of teachers and students somewhere in the world to work with research scientists.

Congratulations to the students and staff at Pocatello Community Charter School (PCCS) in Pocatello, Idaho. The school and its program of Expeditionary Learning (EL) were recently featured in the Idaho State Journal article, “Pocatello Community Charter School students experience expeditionary learning.” According to the Journal, “If people really learn best by doing, the students at Pocatello Community Charter School are on their way to becoming little Einsteins.”